Choose your categories

In-Store Innovation of the Year This award will recognise a retailer who has implemented an innovative piece of in-store technology within its retail estate. This could range from a new EPoS system, self-checkout service, kiosk, touchscreen or mobile till point, to virtual fitting room technology, targeted marketing or an in-store customer ordering and collection feature. The winning entry will be able to demonstrate how such technology has improved the company’s business, along with the degree of innovation present in the IT solution. Enter here2017 winner: Red Ant & Sofology

Retail Charity Partnership of the Year This award will consider the ways that technology allows retailers to better serve their charity partners. The winning entry from a retailer may involve innovative methods for customers to donate either online or in-store, new loyalty programme features, or the way that the retailer is using technology to aid the physical delivery of charity collections or donated goods and supplies. Enter here2017 winner: Doddle & Cancer Research UK

Technology Project of the Year This award will recognise a retailer who has delivered a successful technology project into its operations. The winning entry should demonstrate that the project has met all requirements and highlight how it has improved the overall operations of the organisation. The judges will also assess the innovation level of the technology deployed. Entries are open to retailers and to vendors making a joint submission with a named retailer. Enter here 2017 winner: RELEX Solutions & Granngarden

Retailer of the Year This category is open to ‘traditional’, multi-channel and pure-play retailers who have implemented a game-changing digital strategy or innovation over the past 12 months. The award will recognise technology advancements made either in-store, online, on mobile or across channels that have had a significant impact, such as delivering cost savings or better levels of customer service. Enter here2017 winner: eSpares

PROVIDER/VENDOR CATEGORIES: open to providers and vendors in the retail market

In-Store Technology of the Year This category is open to providers and will identify a new in-store technology that has the ability to significantly improve a retailer’s operations. Examples include: point of sale hardware, self-service kiosks, new processing, stock or management systems, technology to monitor footfall or analyse customer demographics, and new ways for customers to place an order, receive targeted marketing or book an in-store appointment. The winning entry will be able to demonstrate why the technology is innovative and how it can improve a retailer’s business. Enter here 2017 winner: Vend

Mobile Solution of the Year This award will go to a solution by a vendor that enables customers to get the most out of the mobile experience, using their devices to engage with a retailer and shop whenever and wherever is convenient for them. The winning entry will detail technology that is powering the mobile channel, be it an app, mobile payments service, mobile marketing system or a mobile-optimised website. Enter here 2017 winner: Apadmi

Online Solution of the Year This accolade will go to a vendor-created solution that enables customers to get the most out of their online shopping or engagement experience with a retailer. The winning entry will detail technology that is powering the online channel, be it a payments service, marketing system or a solution to fully optimise an e-commerce website. Enter here2017 winner: Increasingly

Mobile Technology Vendor of the Year This award will recognise a mobile technology vendor who has excelled in its field, implementing innovative technology in retail organisations during the past year. The judges will be looking for evidence of how deployment of the company’s technology has led to an improvement in the overall efficiency of a retailer’s mobile operations. Enter here2017 winner: Poq

Online Technology Vendor of the Year The winner of this category will be an online technology vendor who has excelled in its field, implementing innovative technology in retail organisations during the past year. The judges will be looking for evidence of how the deployment of the company’s technology has led to an improvement in the overall efficiency of a retailer’s online operations. Enter here2017 winner: Klarna

Multi-Channel Technology Vendor of the Year This award will recognise a technology vendor who has excelled across channels, implementing innovative technology in multi-channel retail organisations during the past year. The judges will be looking for evidence of how the deployment of the company’s technology has led to an improvement in the overall efficiency of a retailer’s multi-channel operations. Enter here2017 winner: Relex Solutions

GENERAL CATEGORIES: open to either retailers or providers (please note that joint entries are required for the 'partnership' categories)

Payments Partnership of the Year The judges are seeking evidence of a retailer and a payments provider working together to create an innovative and seamless payments experience for the customer, which improves the overall customer journey or speed of payment. The judges will consider the technological solution as well as the thought that has been placed on customer needs by both parties. Enter here2017 winner: Klarna & Arcadia

Delivery Initiative of the Year The continuing rise of online and mobile retail has made the supply chain and delivery process a number one priority for retailers. This award will recognise the implementation of innovative technology to boost a retailer’s omnichannel delivery proposition – be that in the supply chain, stock management system, logistics process or last-mile delivery. The winning entry will provide evidence of the ability to enable the seamless delivery of orders, resulting in a superior experience at every customer touchpoint. The category is open to retailers, delivery firms and technology providers in this field. Enter here2017 winner: On the dot

Startup Company of the Year This award will recognise a visionary startup (launched two years ago or less) with a retail technology product or service which is set to, or has recently had, a significant impact on the sector. Companies should detail why they are ones to watch, successes to date and why they are changing the way that the retail sector operates. We welcome entries from every area of the retail technology sector. Enter here2017 winner: NearSt

Most Disruptive Retail Technology This category win will go to a company who the judges feel have come up with the most disruptive retail technology during the past 12 months, one that has the potential to disrupt the way the retail sector operates, displacing an earlier technology. The aim is to champion technology firms with strong solutions or services that identify a gap in the market or look to improve current ways of working; companies that could well become game-changers by helping to redefine retail in the coming years. We welcome entries from every area of the retail technology sector. Enter here2017 winner: Curalate

Retail Partnership of the Year (In-Store) This category will recognise a successful in-store partnership between a specific retailer and a technology supplier. The winning entry may involve the implementation of a new technology project – such as a back-end system, stock process or customer-facing feature – or the development of a new technology, such as a mobile app or personalisation tool. The judges will be looking for evidence of a successful technology roll-out and an effective partnership between the two companies involved. Enter here2017 winner: Ecrebo & Waitrose

Retail Partnership of the Year (Online) This category will recognise a successful online partnership between a specific retailer and a technology supplier. The winning entry may involve the implementation of a new technology project – such as a back-end system, stock process or customer-facing feature – or the development of a new technology, such as a mobile app or personalisation tool. The judges will be looking for evidence of a successful technology roll-out and an effective partnership between the two companies involved. Enter here2017 winner: 15gifts & O2

Outstanding Individual Achievement This award will commend an individual from a retailer or technology supplier who has made an outstanding contribution to the retail technology sector over the course of the last 12 months.2017 winner: Imogen Wethered, Qudini

ENGAGEMENT AND LOYALTY CATEGORIES: open to either retailers or providers

Best Engagement and Loyalty Scheme in the Hospitality and Leisure Sector Creating a trusted brand that engenders repeat custom and high satisfaction is the aim of all operations, but the creation of truly outstanding brands is hardest where the competition is widest. The hospitality category considers the use of effective engagement and loyalty schemes in hotels, pubs and restaurants, sport and leisure. The scheme size and penetration, the effective use of the data gathered and use of innovation will be considered in the nomination. Please supply supporting evidence, but please do keep the submission to the required length. Enter here2017 winner: Hilton

Best Engagement and Loyalty Scheme in the Retail Sector This award will recognise a retailer that has excelled in its engagement or loyalty programme, improving the consumer experience to drive more loyal customers. The judges will be looking for specific examples of how the retailer has successfully responded to consumers’ needs for a timely and relevant loyalty programme or engagement campaign across all channels, as well as the technology underpinning this. Enter here2017 winner: Omnico Group & Coop Denmark

Most Disruptive Engagement and Loyalty Technology This award will go to a technology who the judges feel has had or will have the most disruptive effect on engagement and loyalty - one that has the potential to disrupt the way the sector operates, and/or displacing an earlier technology. The aim is to champion wholly new ways of thinking, and especially encourage startup companies with strong solutions/services that identify a gap in the market or look to improve current ways of working; solutions that could well become gamechangers by helping to redefine customers’ expectations in the coming years. Enter here2017 winner: Ksubaka

Best Use of Marketing and Engagement Technology Recognising the most effective marketing technology or programme that can help engage customers and create value for the client. This category will be judged on the use of a system and results as well as the technology driving it. Judges want to see real impact and an effective method of turning people’s attention to a product, service or brand – and retain that attention. Enter here2017 winner: Intilery & Sofology